202 LAMARCK, HIS LIFE AND WORK 



" The species " is then " an abstract and general 

 term." * " There only exist individuals and suites of 

 individuals, that is to say, species. "f He also says 

 that Nature " imprints on each species its unalterable 

 characters ; " that " each species has an equal right 

 to creation \"\ that species, even those nearest allied, 

 " are separated by an interval over which nature can- 

 not pass ; "§ and that " each species having been in- 

 dependently created, the first individuals have served 

 as a model for their descendants."] 



Buffon, however, shows the true scientific spirit in 

 speaking of final causes. 



" The pig," he says, " is not formed as an original, 

 special, and perfect type ; its type is compounded of 

 that of many other animals. It has parts which are 

 evidently useless, or which, at any rate, it cannot 

 use." ..." But we, ever on the lookout to refer 

 all parts to a certain end — when we can see no ap- 

 parent use for them, suppose them to have hidden 

 uses, and imagine connections which are without 

 foundation, and serve only to obscure our perception 

 of Nature as she really is : we fail to see that we 

 thus rob philosophy of her true character, which is to 

 inquire into the ' how ' of these things — into the 

 manner in which Nature acts — and that we substitute 

 for this true object a vain idea, seeking to divine the 

 ' why ' — the ends which she has proposed in acting " 

 (tome v., p. 104, 1755, ex Butler), u 



The volumes of the Histoire naturelle on animals, 



^ L. c, tome iv., p. 384 (1753). Thjs is ^h? first volume on the 

 animals below man. 



f Tome xi., p. 369 (1764). 

 1 Tome xii., p. 3 (1764). 

 I Tome v., p. 59 (1755). 

 \ Teme xiii., p. vii. (1765). 



